Providing Per Core Voltage And Frequency Control

ABSTRACT

In one embodiment, the present invention includes a processor having a plurality of cores and a control logic to control provision of a voltage/frequency to a first core of the plurality of cores independently of provision of a voltage/frequency to at least a second core of the plurality of cores. In some embodiments, the voltages may be provided from one or more internal voltage regulators of the processor. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/785,108, filed Mar. 5, 2013, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/889,121, filed Sep. 23, 2010, the content ofwhich is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Power and thermal management issues are considerations in all segmentsof computer-based systems. While in the server domain, the cost ofelectricity drives the need for low power systems, in mobile systemsbattery life and thermal limitations make these issues relevant.Optimizing a system for maximum performance at minimum power consumptionis usually done using the operating system (OS) or system software tocontrol hardware elements. Most modern OS's use the AdvancedConfiguration and Power Interface (ACPI) standard, e.g., Rev. 3.0b,published Oct. 10, 2006, for optimizing the system in these areas. AnACPI implementation allows a processor core to be in differentpower-saving states (also termed low power or idle states), generallyreferred to as so-called C1 to Cn states. Similar package C-states existfor package-level power savings but are not OS-visible.

When a core is active, it runs at a so-called C0 state, and when thecore is idle, it may be placed in a core low power state, a so-calledcore non-zero C-state. The core C1 state represents the low power statethat has the least power savings but can be entered and exited almostimmediately, while an extended deep-low power state (e.g., C3)represents a power state where the static power consumption isnegligible, but the time to enter/exit this state and respond toactivity (i.e., back to C0) is longer.

In addition to power-saving states, performance states or so-calledP-states are also provided in ACPI. These performance states may allowcontrol of performance-power levels while a core is in an active state(C0). In general, multiple P-states may be available, namely from P0-PN.In general, the ACPI P-state control algorithm is to optimize powerconsumption without impacting performance. The state corresponding to P0may operate the core at a maximum voltage and frequency combination forthe core, while each P-state, e.g., P1-PN, operates the core atdifferent voltage and/or frequency combinations. In this way, a balanceof performance and power consumption can occur when the processor isactive based on utilization of the processor. While different P-statescan be used during an active mode, there is no ability for independentP-states for different cores operating at different voltages andfrequencies of a multi-core processor, and accordingly, optimal powersavings cannot be attained while achieving a desired performance level,since at best all active cores may be able to operate at differentfrequencies but they all must share the same voltage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system in accordance with one embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a method in accordance with one embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a method in accordance with anotherembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a processor in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a processor core in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a system in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In various embodiments, a processor having a multi-core architecture mayprovide for per core control of power-performance (P)-states, e.g., inaccordance with an ACPI specification. In this way, better control overpower consumption and performance can be realized. For example, in amulti-core processor only a few cores may be enabled to run at a highercore frequency in a thermally constrained environment, enablingexecution of a desired workload while reducing power consumption andthus temperature.

Thus in various embodiments, each of multiple cores within a processormay be controlled to operate at a different voltage and/or frequency. Inthis way, asymmetric workloads may be executed on the multiple cores toprovide for deterministic performance. While the scope of the presentinvention is not limited in this regard, in some embodiments theindependent voltage/frequency control may be realized using a fullyintegrated voltage regulator (FIVR) implementation in which each corewithin a processor has its own voltage regulator. That is, a singlesemiconductor die that includes multiple cores may further includemultiple independent voltage regulators, each associated with a givencore. Furthermore, one or more additional voltage regulators may beprovided for use with other components within a processor such as uncorelogic, memory controller logic, power control unit, and so forth. Ofcourse, in some embodiments a single voltage regulator may be associatedwith one or more cores and/or other components of a processor. In oneembodiment, a dedicated voltage regulator may be provided for uncorecircuitry of a processor, which would allow the uncore to run at adifferent voltage and frequency. For a compute centric workload, theuncore can be run at a lower voltage and frequency, resulting inapplying power savings toward higher core frequencies at a socket level.For memory and IO intensive workloads, the uncore can be run at a highervoltage and frequency, while the cores can run at lowervoltages/frequencies, compensating for higher power in the uncore.

In some embodiments, ACPI tables may be extended to include informationregarding these individual integrated voltage regulators to enable percore P-state control. For example, a 4-bit field may be used to passP-state information and map it to control voltage logic for eachregulator. Thus using embodiments of the present invention, each coremay be controlled to operate at a different frequency and/or voltage foran asymmetric workload. As one example, one or a few of multiple corescan be controlled to operate at higher frequencies and/or voltages whilethe remaining cores are controlled to operate at lower voltage/frequencycombinations to thus stay within a given thermal design power (TDP)envelope. In this way, deterministic and optimal performance capabilityselection can be realized for given workloads.

For example, cores that seek a higher performance level to process datain a first manner can operate at a higher voltage/frequency (such coresmay execute tasks such as data processing usage such as data-duplicationservices, data analytics, parity computations or so forth), while coresexecuting, e.g., management tasks, can run at lower voltages/frequenciesto provide for an optimal mix for a TDP-constrained environment. Thusrather than opportunistically running all cores at a higher frequencywhen possible (as with a so-called turbo mode) given a thermal or TDPbudget, embodiments provide for deterministic behavior on an individualcore basis.

Referring now to FIG. 1, shown is a block diagram of a portion of asystem in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Asshown in FIG. 1, system 100 may include various components, including aprocessor 110 which as shown is a multi-core processor. Processor 110may be coupled to a power supply 150 via an external voltage regulator160, which may perform a first voltage conversion to provide a primaryregulated voltage to processor 110.

As seen, processor 110 may be a single die processor including multiplecores 120 _(a)-120 _(n). In addition, each core may be associated withan individual voltage regulator 125 _(a)-125 _(n). Accordingly, a fullyintegrated voltage regulator (FIVR) implementation may be provided tothus allow for fine-grained control of voltage and thus power andperformance of each individual core.

Still referring to FIG. 1, additional components may be present withinthe processor including an input/output interface 132, another interface134, and an integrated memory controller 136. As seen, each of thesecomponents may be powered by another integrated voltage regulator 125_(x). In one embodiment, interface 132 may be in accordance with theIntel® Quick Path Interconnect (QPI) protocol, which provides forpoint-to-point (PtP) links in a cache coherent protocol that includesmultiple layers including a physical layer, a link layer and a protocollayer. In turn, interface 134 may be in accordance with a PeripheralComponent Interconnect Express (PCIe™) specification, e.g., the PCIExpress™ Specification Base Specification version 2.0 (published Jan.17, 2007). While not shown for ease of illustration, understand thatadditional components may be present within processor 110 such as uncorelogic, a power control unit, and other components such as internalmemories, e.g., one or more levels of a cache memory hierarchy and soforth. Furthermore, while shown in the implementation of FIG. 1 with anintegrated voltage regulator, embodiments are not so limited.

Referring now to FIG. 2, shown is a flow diagram of a method inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Method 200 maybe performed, in one embodiment, by a controller such as an integratedpower control unit (PCU) of a processor. However, understand that thescope of the present invention is not limited in this regard and method200 may be performed by other controllers within a system such as amanagement engine.

With reference to FIG. 2, method 200 may begin by receiving aperformance state change request in the PCU (block 210). For example, inmany implementations this request may be received from the OS or systemsoftware. As an example, this request may correspond to a request tochange a P-state for one or more cores. That is, in suchimplementations, the OS may be aware of the per core P-state controlprovided by embodiments of the present invention. In other embodiments,even when the OS or system software is not aware of this feature, aperformance state change request may be received and handled asdiscussed herein.

At diamond 220 it may be determined whether an increase in performanceis requested. That is, the request may be an identification of a higherperformance level (e.g., corresponding to a lower than current P-statesuch as a request to enter the PO state from the P1 state). Note alsothat this determination may also confirm that it is possible to changeP-state from the current state. If so, control passes to block 230. Atblock 230, a determination may be made as to a selection of one or morecores to increase its voltage independently of at least another core(block 230). As examples of this decision, the PCU may determine toincrease voltage and associated frequency based on TDP margin thatdepends upon various factors such as overall die current, power,temperature, and micro-architectural activities (such as load/storebuffers, a thread scheduler or so forth). For example, where a portionof a multi-core processor is determined to be cooler (and operating atlower voltage/frequency), a core within this portion may be selected forincreased voltage and frequency

When the one or more cores selected for increased voltage aredetermined, control passes to block 240, where a new voltage andfrequency are calculated for the selected core(s). Such calculations maybe based at least in part on a TDP specification for the processor, Iccheadroom and so forth.

Still referring to FIG. 2, control passes next to block 250 where acontrol signal for the new voltage may be sent to the voltage regulatorassociated with the core or cores. As an example, this control signalmay be a digital control signal or it may be an analog signal to thuscause the voltage regulator to initiate a change to a different voltagelevel. Accordingly, the FIVR associated with the core(s) may be adjustedto thus output an updated voltage to the core. Thus, control passes toblock 260, where the core may operate at the selected voltage. Note thatbecause in many embodiments the voltage regulator may be integratedwithin the processor, this adjustment may occur with reduced latency ascompared to an off-chip regulator.

If instead it is determined at diamond 220 that a decrease inperformance is requested, control passes to block 270. At block 270, adetermination may be made as to a selection of one or more cores todecrease voltage independently of at least another core (block 270).Such decision may be based on factors such as described above, and mayinclude a determination that movement to a different P-state ispermitted.

When the one or more cores selected for decreased voltage aredetermined, control passes to block 275, where a new voltage andfrequency may be calculated for the selected core(s). Control passesnext to block 280 where a control signal for the new voltage may be sentto the voltage regulator associated with the core or cores to cause theFIVR associated with the core(s) to output a decreased voltage to thecore. Accordingly, control passes to block 290, where the core mayoperate at the selected voltage. While shown with this particularimplementation in the embodiment of FIG. 2, understand the scope of thepresent invention is not limited in this regard. For example, the abovediscussion assumes that the PCU and the cores are part of the samesemiconductor die, e.g., of a multicore processor. In other embodiments,the cores may be on independent dies but of the same multichip package.In still further embodiments, cores may be in separate packages but havetheir voltage/frequency controlled in common, e.g., using coordinatedvoltage regulators.

One alternate embodiment is an implementation in which a processor doesnot include integrated regulators. In such processors, embodiments canstill be accommodated to provide per core P-state control. To that end,instead at blocks 250 or 280, control signals for different voltages canbe provided, e.g., to the cores directly, where the cores can providefor voltage adjustments based on the received a voltage. In yet furtherembodiments, at blocks 250 and 280 the control signals for the changedvoltage can be provided off-chip to an external voltage regulator. Thiscontrol signal may be transmitted on a single pin or multiple pins,where each of the multiple pins is associated with a different voltagelevel to cause the external voltage regulator to provide one of multiplevoltages. Specifically in such implementations, the external voltageregulator may output multiple voltage signals, which can be coupled tothe processor and in turn, e.g., to a voltage transmission logic of theprocessor which can further receive control signals from the powercontrol unit to thus enable selected voltages to be provided to thecorresponding cores, as determined by the power control unit.

In yet other embodiments, for example, in a multi-OS system where anumber of cores can be dedicated to one OS and a different number ofcores are dedicated to a different OS, each core in one OS domain can bestatically set to a fixed (and possibly different) V/F, while the coresin another OS domain can vary V/F dynamically during operation. Forexample, one OS domain may be dedicated to deterministic operations suchas management operations for a system and thus can benefit from fixedV/F control. In contrast, an OS domain in which various user-levelapplications are executed may have non-deterministic workloads and thusmay benefit from dynamic independent V/F control in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

In some embodiments, for dynamic control of core V/F, the PCU can,independently of the OS, monitor micro-architectural activities anddetermine if one or more core's V/F can be dynamically changed toreduce/increase power, depending on the required load demand.

Referring now to FIG. 3, shown is a flow diagram of a method inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 3, method 300 may be executed by a power control unit of aprocessor. Thus method 300 may be appropriate where an OS is not awareof the per core P-state capabilities provided by an embodiment of thepresent invention. In still further embodiments, method 300 may beperformed in connection with method 200 described above in situationswhere the OS is aware of the P-state capability, to provide for improveddynamic control of core P-states.

As seen in FIG. 3, method 300 may begin by monitoringmicro-architectural activities of one or more cores (block 310). Whilethe scope of the present invention is not limited in this regard, suchactivities may include determining a number of instructions executed ina time window, retirements per time window or so forth.

Responsive to information obtained from the micro-architecturalactivities, an analysis may be performed by the power control unit. Morespecifically, at block 320 the power control unit may analyze theactivities as well as a load demand of the processor. For example, theload demand may be based on information regarding the number of threadsscheduled to the cores and the types of processes for which thesethreads are scheduled.

Control then passes to diamond 330, where the power control unit maydetermine whether dynamic adjustment of at least one ofvoltage/frequency for one or more cores is appropriate. For example, ifthe activities and the load demand indicate that an appropriatetrade-off between power and performance is occurring, the power controlunit may choose not to dynamically adjust any voltage/frequencycombination. Accordingly, method 300 may conclude.

Otherwise, if it is determined to adjust at least one voltage/frequencypair for a given core, control instead passes to block 340. There, a newvoltage and frequency pair may be calculated for the selected core(s).

Still referring to FIG. 3, control passes next to block 350 where acontrol signal for the new voltage can be sent to the voltage regulatorassociated with the core or cores to be updated with a new voltage. Inthis way, the FIVR associated with the core(s) may be adjusted to thusoutput an updated voltage to the core. Thus, control passes to block360, where the core may operate at the selected voltage. While shownwith this particular implementation in the embodiment of FIG. 3,understand the scope of the present invention is not limited in thisregard.

For example, in other embodiments not only can the V/F of one or morecore(s) dynamically change, but also the uncore frequency and voltagecan change to support the required core V/F demand. The uncore frequencyis not visible to an OS, but can contribute to the overall die powersavings. The uncore power savings can be applied toward core power thatwould result in increased core performance. Similarly, the core powersavings can be applied to increased uncore voltage/frequency toaccommodate workloads that may require higher uncore frequency. In someimplementations, this dynamic uncore change can be performed usingmethod 300 of FIG. 3.

Referring now to FIG. 4, shown is a block diagram of a processor inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG.4, processor 400 may be a multicore processor including a plurality ofcores 410 _(a)-410 _(n). In one embodiment, each such core may beconfigured to operate at multiple voltages and/or frequencies. Inaddition, each core may be independently controlled to operate at aselected voltage and/or frequency, as discussed above. To this end, eachcore may be associated with a corresponding voltage regulator 412 a-412n. The various cores may be coupled via an interconnect 415 to an uncore420 that includes various components. As seen, the uncore 420 mayinclude a shared cache 430 which may be a last level cache. In addition,the uncore may include an integrated memory controller 440, variousinterfaces 450 and a power control unit 455.

In various embodiments, power control unit 455 may be in communicationwith OS power management code. For example, based on a request receivedfrom the OS and information regarding the workloads being processed bythe cores, power control unit 455 may determine an appropriatecombination of voltage and frequency for operating each of the cores,such as described above with respect to FIG. 2. For example, powercontrol unit 455 may include a table having entries each of whichassociates a voltage and frequency at which each core is executing. Inaddition, unit 455 may include a storage having information regarding aTDP or other thermal budget. Based on all of this information, powercontrol unit 455 can dynamically and independently control a frequencyand/or voltage to one or more cores to enable deterministic operationand provide for asymmetric workloads to the cores, while remainingwithin the TDP budget, and further without the need for opportunisticturbo mode operation. Thus responsive to such calculations, powercontrol unit 455 may generate a plurality of control signals to causethe voltage regulators to control the voltage provided to thecorresponding cores accordingly.

In addition, power control unit 455 may independently determine that achange in voltage/frequency is appropriate for one or more cores asdiscussed above with regard to FIG. 3. In some implementations, theanalysis performed by power control unit 455 may be based at least inpart on prediction information determined by an activity monitor logic,which may be part of the power control unit. This logic may include abuffer to store information associated with operating cores. Theactivity monitor may receive incoming data from the various coresregarding their current activity levels. The buffer of the activitymonitor may be arranged in various manners. In one embodiment, thebuffer may be adapted to store for each core, an indication of a timestamp associated with each power state change event. The activitymonitor thus intercepts and time stamps the events in which cores enterand exit given activity states. This monitored data may thus includetime stamp data as well as the activity state to indicate, during theinterval of storage, how long each core was in a given state, and may beprovided to, e.g., a predictor of the power control unit, which may usethis information to determine predicted core states for the nextinterval, which can be used in selection of independent frequency and/orvoltage at which to operate the core(s).

With further reference to FIG. 4, processor 400 may communicate with asystem memory 460, e.g., via a memory bus. In addition, by interfaces450, connection can be made to various off-chip components such asperipheral devices, mass storage and so forth. While shown with thisparticular implementation in the embodiment of FIG. 4, the scope of thepresent invention is not limited in this regard.

Referring now to FIG. 5, shown is a block diagram of a processor core inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 5, processor core 500 may be a multi-stage pipelined out-of-orderprocessor. As shown in FIG. 5, core 500 may operate an various voltagesand frequencies as a result of integrated voltage regulator 509. Invarious embodiments, this regulator may receive an incoming voltagesignal, e.g., from an external voltage regulator and may further receiveone or more control signals, e.g., from uncore logic coupled to core500.

As seen in FIG. 5, core 500 includes front end units 510, which may beused to fetch instructions to be executed and prepare them for use laterin the processor. For example, front end units 510 may include a fetchunit 501, an instruction cache 503, and an instruction decoder 505. Insome implementations, front end units 510 may further include a tracecache, along with microcode storage as well as a micro-operationstorage. Fetch unit 501 may fetch macro-instructions, e.g., from memoryor instruction cache 503, and feed them to instruction decoder 505 todecode them into primitives, i.e., micro-operations for execution by theprocessor.

Coupled between front end units 510 and execution units 520 is anout-of-order (OOO) engine 515 that may be used to receive themicro-instructions and prepare them for execution. More specifically OOOengine 515 may include various buffers to re-order micro-instructionflow and allocate various resources needed for execution, as well as toprovide renaming of logical registers onto storage locations withinvarious register files such as register file 530 and extended registerfile 535. Register file 530 may include separate register files forinteger and floating point operations. Extended register file 535 mayprovide storage for vector-sized units, e.g., 256 or 512 bits perregister.

Various resources may be present in execution units 520, including, forexample, various integer, floating point, and single instructionmultiple data (SIMD) logic units, among other specialized hardware. Forexample, such execution units may include one or more arithmetic logicunits (ALUs) 522, among other such execution units.

Results from the execution units may be provided to retirement logic,namely a reorder buffer (ROB) 540. More specifically, ROB 540 mayinclude various arrays and logic to receive information associated withinstructions that are executed. This information is then examined by ROB540 to determine whether the instructions can be validly retired andresult data committed to the architectural state of the processor, orwhether one or more exceptions occurred that prevent a proper retirementof the instructions. Of course, ROB 540 may handle other operationsassociated with retirement.

As shown in FIG. 5, ROB 540 is coupled to a cache 550 which, in oneembodiment may be a low level cache (e.g., an L1 cache) although thescope of the present invention is not limited in this regard. Also,execution units 520 can be directly coupled to cache 550. From cache550, data communication may occur with higher level caches, systemmemory and so forth. While shown with this high level in the embodimentof FIG. 5, understand the scope of the present invention is not limitedin this regard. For example, while the implementation of FIG. 5 is withregard to an out-of-order machine such as of a so-called x86 instructionset architecture (ISA), the scope of the present invention is notlimited in this regard. That is, other embodiments may be implemented inan in-order processor, a reduced instruction set computing (RISC)processor such as an ARM-based processor, or a processor of another typeof ISA that can emulate instructions and operations of a different ISAvia an emulation engine and associated logic circuitry.

Embodiments may be implemented in many different system types. Referringnow to FIG. 6, shown is a block diagram of a system in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6,multiprocessor system 600 is a point-to-point interconnect system, andincludes a first processor 670 and a second processor 680 coupled via apoint-to-point interconnect 650. As shown in FIG. 6, each of processors670 and 680 may be multicore processors, including first and secondprocessor cores (i.e., processor cores 674 a and 674 b and processorcores 684 a and 684 b), although potentially many more cores may bepresent in the processors. Each of the cores may operate at independentvoltages/frequencies using multiple independent voltage regulatorspresent within the processors (not shown for ease of illustration in theembodiment of FIG. 6).

Still referring to FIG. 6, first processor 670 further includes a memorycontroller hub (MCH) 672 and point-to-point (P-P) interfaces 676 and678. Similarly, second processor 680 includes a MCH 682 and P-Pinterfaces 686 and 688. As shown in FIG. 6, MCH's 672 and 682 couple theprocessors to respective memories, namely a memory 632 and a memory 634,which may be portions of system memory (e.g., DRAM) locally attached tothe respective processors. First processor 670 and second processor 680may be coupled to a chipset 690 via P-P interconnects 652 and 654,respectively. As shown in FIG. 6, chipset 690 includes P-P interfaces694 and 698.

Furthermore, chipset 690 includes an interface 692 to couple chipset 690with a high performance graphics engine 638, by a P-P interconnect 639.In addition chipset 690 may include an interface 695, which may be astorage controller to interface with a storage 619. In turn, chipset 690may be coupled to a first bus 616 via an interface 696. As shown in FIG.6, various input/output (I/O) devices 614 may be coupled to first bus616, along with a bus bridge 618 which couples first bus 616 to a secondbus 620. Various devices may be coupled to second bus 620 including, forexample, a keyboard/mouse 622, communication devices 626 and a datastorage unit 628 such as a disk drive or other mass storage device whichmay include code 630, in one embodiment. Further, an audio I/O 624 maybe coupled to second bus 620. Embodiments can be incorporated into othertypes of systems including mobile devices such as a smart cellulartelephone, tablet computer, netbook, or so forth.

Embodiments may be implemented in code and may be stored on a storagemedium having stored thereon instructions which can be used to program asystem to perform the instructions. The storage medium may include, butis not limited to, any type of non-transitory storage medium such asdisk including floppy disks, optical disks, solid state drives (SSDs),compact disk read-only memories (CD-ROMs), compact disk rewritables(CD-RWs), and magneto-optical disks, semiconductor devices such asread-only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMs) such as dynamicrandom access memories (DRAMs), static random access memories (SRAMs),erasable programmable read-only memories (EPROMs), flash memories,electrically erasable programmable read-only memories (EEPROMs),magnetic or optical cards, or any other type of media suitable forstoring electronic instructions.

While the present invention has been described with respect to a limitednumber of embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate numerousmodifications and variations therefrom. It is intended that the appendedclaims cover all such modifications and variations as fall within thetrue spirit and scope of this present invention.

1. (canceled)
 2. A processor comprising: a plurality of cores formed ona single semiconductor die, each of the plurality of cores including aninstruction decoder to decode instructions and at least one executionunit to execute the decoded instructions; and a power control unit (PCU)to control provision of a voltage/frequency to a first core of theplurality of cores independently of provision of a voltage/frequency toat least a second core of the plurality of cores, determine whether toupdate the voltage/frequency of the first core based at least in part ona workload, a thermal design power (TDP) margin and a temperatureassociated with the first core, and responsive to the determinationupdate the voltage/frequency provided to the first core.
 3. Theprocessor of claim 1, wherein the PCU is to receive a performance statechange request from an operating system (OS) during OS operation fordynamic update of a voltage/frequency of the first core.
 4. Theprocessor of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of voltageregulators formed on the single semiconductor die and each associatedwith one of the plurality of cores.
 5. The processor claim 4, whereinthe PCU is to provide a control signal to each of the plurality ofvoltage regulators to enable the corresponding voltage regulator toprovide an independent voltage to the associated core.
 6. The processorof claim 4, wherein a first voltage regulator is coupled to theprocessor to provide a first regulated voltage to the plurality ofvoltage regulators, and wherein the plurality of voltage regulators areto each provide an independent voltage to at least one of the pluralityof cores.
 7. The processor of claim 4, wherein one of the plurality ofvoltage regulators is associated with at least some of the plurality ofcores.
 8. The processor of claim 7, wherein one of the plurality ofvoltage regulators is dedicated to an uncore circuit of the processor.9. The processor of claim 1, wherein the first core is to receivecontrol information and a first voltage, and adjust the first voltage toa second voltage responsive to the control information.
 10. Theprocessor of claim 1, further comprising an uncore circuit comprisingthe PCU.
 11. The processor of claim 10, wherein the uncore circuit is tooperate at a first voltage and a first frequency for a first workloadand operate at a second voltage and a second frequency for a secondworkload.
 12. The processor of claim 11, wherein the PCU is to apply apower savings from the uncore circuit operation at the first frequencyand the first voltage to one or more of the plurality of cores.
 13. Theprocessor of claim 1, wherein the PCU includes an activity monitor tomonitor operation of the plurality of cores and dynamically select atleast one of the plurality of cores for provision of an updatedvoltage/frequency thereto.
 14. The processor of claim 13, wherein theactivity monitor is to monitor micro-architectural activity of theplurality of cores, including instruction execution information.
 15. Anon-transitory machine-readable medium having stored thereoninstructions, which if performed by a machine cause the machine toperform a method comprising: receiving a performance state changerequest for a first core of a multicore processor; adjusting avoltage/frequency provided to the first core independently of at leastone other core of the multicore processor; sending a control signal forthe adjusted voltage to the first core to enable the first core toadjust a received voltage to the adjusted voltage; and dynamicallycontrolling an independent voltage/frequency for a first set of cores ofthe multicore processor based at least in part on a workload, a thermaldesign power (TDP) and a temperature of the multicore processor, andcontrolling an uncore circuit of the multicore processor to receive afixed voltage/frequency.
 16. The non-transitory machine-readable mediumof claim 15, wherein the method further comprises calculating theadjusted voltage for the first core based at least in part on a thermaldesign power (TDP) specification for the multicore processor.
 17. Thenon-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the methodfurther comprises controlling a second set of cores of the multicoreprocessor to receive a second fixed voltage/frequency, wherein the firstset of cores are associated with a first domain having a first operatingsystem and the second set of cores are associated with a second domainhaving a second operating system
 18. The non-transitory machine-readablemedium of claim 17, wherein the first operating system is to executenon-deterministic operations comprising user-level applications and thesecond operating system is to execute deterministic operationscomprising management operations.
 19. A system comprising: a processorincluding a plurality of cores, a plurality of integrated voltageregulators each to independently provide a voltage to at least one ofthe plurality of cores, and a power control unit to control theplurality of integrated voltage regulators to dynamically adjust duringsystem operation one or more independent voltages to be provided to atleast some of the plurality of cores, based at least in part on aworkload, a thermal design power (TDP) of the processor, and atemperature of a portion of a die of the processor associated with theat least some cores; an external voltage regulator coupled to theprocessor to provide a first voltage to the plurality of integratedvoltage regulators; and a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) coupled tothe processor.
 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the power controlunit includes an activity monitor to monitor micro-architecturaloperation of the plurality of cores and to dynamically select at leastone of the plurality of cores for provision of an updatedvoltage/frequency thereto, wherein the power control unit is to predicta usage of the at least one core in a future time period based oninformation from the activity monitor.
 21. The system of claim 19,wherein the power control unit is to cause dynamic adjustment to avoltage/frequency provided to an uncore logic of the processor.